What are mangroves and why should we worry about the loss of them?
Mangroves are tidal forests commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subtropics. They protect the coast against erosion due to wind, waves and water currents and protect coral reefs, seagrass beds and shipping lanes against siltation. Mangroves also host a number of different animal species – including endangered mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds – offer nutrients to the marine food web and provide spawning grounds to a variety of fish and shellfish, including several commercial species. Mangrove deforestation threatens the survival of these species and contributes to land erosion and salinization of coastal soils. Mangroves are also a source of a vast range of wood and non-wood forest products including timber, fuelwood, charcoal, fodder, honey, medicine and thatch. In many developing countries, coastal communities rely on mangrove forests to provide fuelwood for cooking as well as protein in the form of fish and shellfish. It represents a vital resource for
